Velocipede



,M. (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. W. MGGLURE.

VELOUIPEDE.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2.

A. W. MOCLURE.

YELOGIPEDE. No. 331,518. Patented Dec. 1. 1885.

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3 SheetsSheet 3.

(No Model.)

A. W. MQOLURE.

VELOOIPEDE.

Patented Dec. 1, 1885.

iffy-D747- n UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

ALEXANDER W. MOOLURE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VELOCIPEDE.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,518, datedDecember 1, 1885. Application filed January 7, 1885. Serial No. 152,209.(No model.)

T0 on whom it may concerns Be it known that I, ALEXANDER W. Mc- CLURE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification, to wit:

This invention relatesto an improvement in velocipedes; and it consistsin certain peculiarities of the construction and arrangement of thesame, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described andclaimed.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation,referring to the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation of what I consider the preferableform of my improved machine. Fig. 2 isa similar view of a modificationof the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the form shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 4.and 5 are 1 top and bottom views of the foot-pedal; Fig.

6, the pins for supporting them; Fig. 7, a crosssection of these pins,showing the connection of the pedal to its fulcrum. Fig. 8 is asectional view of the steering-head represented in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig.9, a side elevation of a more preferable form producing the same result.Fig. 10 is a section of the clutch, and

Fig. 11 is a face view of the outer plate of the same.

A A represent the front and rear wheels of my velocipede, which areconstructed with rubber tires, steelwire spokes, &c., in the usualmanner, or in any other desired manner.

As seen in Fig. 1, the front fork, a, is'extended in rear of thefront-wheel centers, and

is hinged upon a bolt or pivot-pin, a, to which is also hinged the reacha connecting the front and rear wheels, and both the front fork andreach are provided with braces a a, which engage the lower end of thepivota, and serve to truss the frame and firmly brace the parts, whilegiving a long center, which aids in overcoming any tendency to wearirregularly and become loose in the head. The reach a? is firmly andrigidly secured to the rear fork, b, and at or near this connectionprojects on each side a pedal-pin, b. This is of peculiar form, beingconstructed with knife-edge bearings b at the inner and outer ends, asclearly seen in Fig. 6. The pedals B are formed with flat upper facessurfaced with rubber c, to prevent the feet from slipping, and arepreferably of con siderable length,and having slightly-upturned ends 0,to prevent slipping off at this point. It will be observed thata bearingfor the foot is given throughout the entire length of the pedal,whichenables the rider to stand at any point desired to obtain the properspeed and power. under sides with Ashaped sockets c, to receive theknife'edge bearings and prevent undue friction of the parts when inmotion. Between the two sockets c of each pedal extends a shorttransverse bar, o and the upper side of this bar and under side of thepedal-pi11 are formed on a curve struck from a common cen ter, and aresecured by ametal band, 0*, which prevents the pedals from jumping fromtheir seats, but fits loosely enough to allow a free motion. Each pedalis at or near its rear end provided with a projecting arm, 0, at anangle with the main body of the pedal. The outer end of this arm isconnected to the pedal forward of its fulcrum bya brace rod or wire, d,which strengthens it, while enabling me to construct it very light, andthe arm is also connected by a flexible band or connectionfl, with adriving-clutch, D, on the hub or axle of the rear wheel or wheels, theconstruction of which will be presently explained.

In the construction of this velocipede I desire to so connect thesteering bar or handles with the steering-wheel as to obtain a reversemotion of the two. ous ways.

In Figs. 1 and 2 Ihave represented the front fork as provided with aprojecting arm, 6, the outer end of which carries a stud or pin, 6,having a friction-roller upon it, and upon a standard or post, f, on thereach are pivoted the handles D, also provided with a projecting arm, f,formed with a slot, f which receives the stud and roller upon the arm 6.The steering-liandles branch laterally and project upward and rearwardto a point convenient for grasping.

A second and preferable form of connection is shown in Fig. 9, in whichthe handles are secured upon the same pin or bolt, a, which This may bedone in vari- Their rear ends are formed on their connects the twoportions of the frame, and are formed orprovided with a bevel-gear, g,which is by an idler, 9, connected to a similar gear, 9 upon the frontfork. This obtains the same result of crosssteering, and condenses themachine by placing the whole mechanism upon the steering-head, and I..therefore prefer this construction.

The clutch D is constructed as follows: The. axle is provided with asmall disk, h, firmly secured upon it, which is inclosed in a casing, H,which surrounds it and moves freely on the axle. a spring-band, h, whichclosely fits the disk, and has its ends secured at different points to asmall lever, h, socketed in the casing H. A spring, if, is secured atone end to thecasing and at the other to the frame, to rewind the bandafter being drawn off. It is obvious that as the band (I is drawn offthe casing'to which it is attached is thrown forward, and, acting uponthe outer end of the lever,draws the band tight and clutches the disk.As soon as strain upon the band is relieved the spring h throws thecasing backward, releasing the clutch and rewinding the band.

In operation the rider steps upon the pedals, which, it will be seen,arequite near the ground, and his weight applied upon one pedal or theother, or both, drives the velocipede forward. The rear arms of thepedal-levers are preferably' of such length relative to the pedal properthat one stroke of the foot will cause one or more complete revolutionsof the wheels, thus giving considerable speed with little exertion onthe part of the rider. The form and position of the pedals allow theoperator to move in or out to give more or less leverage and more orless motion. Thus upon smooth and level ground, or when riding at aquick speed, the rider may stand quite near the pivotal points andobtain a sufficient power with a very slight motion of the feet, whilewhen desiring to apply more force with less speed, moving out to theends of the pedals will at once increase the leverage, and consequentpower,without any increase of exertion. The handles are in exactly theproper position to allow the rider to push or pull upon them, and

lean forward when exerting the utmost power for swift riding orhill-climbing, and thereby gain a decided advantage over the ordinarymode of throwing the body back and lifting upon the handles merely. Insteering, it will be observed that on turning the handles in eitherdirection the front or steering wheel is moved in exactly the oppositedirection from that ordinarily done. The reach being jointed to thefront fork so far in rear of the center of the forward wheels also gainsin a twowheeled velocipede another important point. The motion of thebody in throwing the weight alternately upon the pedals causes thecenter of gravity of the body to be moved slightly to one side or theother of the reach, and in con-, sequence of the line of motion betweenthe contact-points of the wheels with the ground.

Around the fixed driving-disk is placed As this action occurs the hingeor pivotal head of the velocipede is slightly swayed in the oppositedirection, and thus the center of gravity is always nearly or quite onthe central line of motion, and the machine is steered without thedirect volition of the rider in such a direction as to bring the line ofsupport on the ground under or nearly under the riders center ofgravity, when changed by the act of shifting the weight alternately fromone pedal tow the other, and a more even balance is thus preserved.Thesameistrueofturning curves at speed, the frame of the machine beingbent by the steering mechanism in such a manner and to such extent thatthe center of gravity, swaying inward on the curve, naturally is stillon or nearly on a direct line through the contact-points of the. wheels.The frame being low, the velocipede is easily mounted and dismounted,andthe whole. Weight resting be tween the wheels and below their centers,the

balance is improved and therider is not exposed to any serious falls,either forward or sidewise, rendering the machine. safe, light, easy ofpropulsion, and durable. A brakelever, t, is hinged upon the reach,withits rearend formed with a shoe, i, which, projectsbackward forengagement with the rear wheel or wheels, andv its forward end is formedwith a pedal-tip, i, upon which the foot is-pressed to apply the brake.I thus obtain a brakepower equal to the weight of the rider, if desired,that canbe instantly applied by placing the foot upon it, and also placemy brake-below the center of the wheel, when the dirt scraped from thetire will not be thrown upon the rider. The wheels I shall protect bydustguards of curved sheet metal supported upon the frame; but this istoo common to need description here.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a slightly different.

styleoftwo-wheeled machine having the front fork nearly vertical; butthe balance of the device is as just described. This I regardassubstantially the same device, and operates in the same manner.

This machine may be used by riders of varying height, the only changenecessary being the elevation or lowering of thehandles tobring them invthe best position for effectiveuse. It is alsoadapted byits low frameand lightness for use by ladies, as will beat once seen, while longgarmentssuch as overcoatsand other-loose articlescan be worn with, easeandwithout danger of catching in.the-

wheels. I will use two, three, or morewheels, as desired.

Having thus fully described myv invention, what I claim as new, and.desire to secure by Letters Patent, is?

1. In. a velocipede having two trailing wheels,.the combinatiomwith thefront and rear wheels, of aconnecting -frame jointedor hinged togetherbetween the wheel-centers,

and provided with av pedal pin or pins,alsobetween the wheel-centers,whereby the application of the weight upon one side or the ICC IIO

other slightly sways the frame to preserve the center of gravity overthe central line of motion, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. In a velocipede, a steering-wheel having its fork hinged to the mainframe, and provided with a bevel-gear at this point, in combination witha steering-bar pivoted on the same pin as the fork, and also providedwith a gear, and an idler connecting the two, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

3. In a velocipede, the combination of an oscillating pedal and apedal-pin, one of which is formed with a knife-edge bearing and theother with V-shaped sockets therefor, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

4. In a velocipede, the combination, with the pedal B, having a/\-shaped socket, 0 upon each side, connected by a bar, 0 of thepedal-pins 1), formed with knife-edge bearings b at each end, the upperside of the bar 0 and the lower side of the pin 1) curved from a commoncenter and connected by a retaining-band, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. In a velocipede, a driving wheel or axle provided with a disk rigidlysecured thereon, and a clutch-band loosely surrounding the disk andhaving its ends secured at different points, with a lever, incombination with a surrounding casing engaging said clutch-lever, and anoperating-band secured to said casing, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

6. In a velocipede, the front and rear wheels, the axle of the latterprovided with drivingclutches, and a main frame connecting them, and asteering-handle, in combination with operating pedal-levers fulcrumedbetween and below the wheel-centers, and having their rear ends flexiblyconnected to the driving clutches, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER IV. MOOLURE.

WVitnesses:

CHAS. KRESSMANN, FRANK JOHNSON.

